By CJ Richter
Article Published: 24 January 2007

Recently the team went on a loft visit to Stroomop Hokke in the Somerset West area. What a pleasure to have met the man that won the car at the Western Cape National Loft against the best competition that was on offer.

On arriving at Louis‘ place it was soon apparent that here we had a fancier that was not keen to talk about his successes in the sport. What an achievement to win the car against the best that was on offer that day. To win the car against such strong competition is a dream come true to any pigeon man and Louis is no exception as he is thrilled to bits with his pigeon--- ring no. FB 05 12137.

Pigeon keeping runs deep in Louis veins as he had pigeons since early childhood. He matriculated in 1959 in a town called Excelsior in the Freestate. While at high school he raced in the local club with some of his teachers. In those days there was only one clock in the club as clocks were a pretty expensive commodity. The clock was kept at the local police station and the fanciers had to cycle or run there to clock their birds. In 1960—1964 Louis furthered his education in Pretoria and on completion of his studies he moved to Potgietersrus where he joined the local club and raced well with birds from Barker and Gitts origin. An educationist by profession he moved to Nelspruit and raced his birds with great success during the years 1970—1976.

Then as his profession required he moved to Van Der Bijl Park. Here he raced from 1976—1980 successfully which culminated in him winning a car. Then forever on the move Louis took up a teaching post in Windhoek the then South West Africa from 1980--1996 where he raced his pigeons of mostly the cattrysse bloodline. In the Windhoek club Louis also performed well and one of the races he won was from Upington (1000Km). During 1996 in what was becoming a pattern in his working life Louis settled in Caledon to start his own business where he retired in 1999. Racing in Caledon he had a fair amount of success and also won Kroonstad with an hour to spare.

Photo Above: Louis in front of his loft...

For his retirement Louis and his family settled down in Somerset West where he joined the Federated Board of Homing Unions .Racing his cattrysse he soon came to the conclusion that he’ll have to bring in new blood. So eventually this even and well mannered man parted with his old birds and sent them to a friend in Windhoek where they performed well in the past. He bought in a few Jansen and Putteries and with it’s offspring this wonderful fancier is having his fair amount of success culminating in his car win at the Western Cape National Loft.

Photo Above: Stroomop Hokke Click Pair!

As is custom by now the team asked him a few questions and as you can see by his answers here we have a fancier that really KEEPS IT SIMPLE.

Do you mix your own corn?
Mix my own feed with a wide variety of seeds.

What is your feeding method?
Fixed feeding routine, no leftovers and grit all important.

What training methods do you use?
Tuesdays Worcester and every Friday Laingsburg those that’s not racing.

What system do you race your birds on?
Keep sexes apart—showing before a race.

How many stock birds do you keep?
18 pairs.

How many young do you breed?
About 60 and for one loft racing 32 extra.

What would you like to see improve in the sport of pigeon racing?
Fanciers should give more credit where it’s due and be more careful in issuing advice especially to newcomers.

Some of your fondest memories.
1. Winning the Car in 1980.
2. Winning the Derby in 2005.
3. Winning the Car 2006.

Photo Above: One of Louis' best racing hens for 2006

In concluding this article on Louis Botha of Stroomop Hokke I wish to leave our readers with a question and answer from this quiet and soft spoken man---- The question was, how long did it take to end your novice status? The answer was and it filled the room with silence----I see myself as a novice still, for what will it suffice to be a racing pigeon champion and not a champion human being----Food for thought, Isn’t it!!!

Photo Above: Louis Botha

The team sincerely thank Louis for his time and down-to-earth manner in which he accommodated us.

C. J.Richter